The Sonnie Foundation
The Sonnie Foundation is a private foundation, based in Bethesda, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $898K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $21K. Net investment income was $43K.
The Sonnie Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sonnie Foundation gave $21K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,000
- -20.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,200
- -52.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $898,276
- +2.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Colorado (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Sonnie Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Shining Stars Foundation ($15K). Together the top 5 received $21K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Sonnie Foundation gives
- Giving fell 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2021) to $67K (2019). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shining Stars Foundation Winter Park, CO | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Los Angeles, CA | Gemneral Purpose | $3,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA New York, NY | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| Jewish Social Services Agency Rockville, MD | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| Montgomery & Prince Georges Hospice Rockville, MD | General Putrpose | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $898,276 | $58,655 | $36,813 | $21,000 | 5 | — | $42,842 | $58,701 |
| 2024 | $876,434 | $58,522 | $41,448 | $26,500 | 3 | $26,500 | $43,574 | — |
| 2023 | $859,360 | $38,969 | $49,761 | $36,800 | 7 | $36,800 | $26,128 | — |
| 2022 | $849,027 | $36,783 | $51,490 | $39,100 | 6 | $39,100 | $23,990 | — |
| 2021 | $863,734 | $41,768 | $21,086 | $9,016 | 6 | $9,016 | $29,698 | — |
| 2020 | $816,507 | $-20,080 | $77,299 | $66,000 | 6 | — | $19,150 | — |
| 2019 | $837,988 | $46,571 | $76,807 | $66,500 | 6 | — | $25,468 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sonnie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $59K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Sonnie Foundation is led by Saundra L. Dockser, Trustee on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Saundra L. Dockser
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Sonnie Foundation
How much does The Sonnie Foundation give each year?
The Sonnie Foundation gave $21K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 3 grants.
What is The Sonnie Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sonnie Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,200, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sonnie Foundation give grants?
The Sonnie Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (14%) and Maryland (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rockville, MD (2 grants).
Does The Sonnie Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of The Sonnie Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sonnie Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sonnie Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Shining Stars Foundation ($15,000), Los Angeles Regional Food Bank ($3,000) and Doctors Without Borders USA ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sonnie Foundation?
The Sonnie Foundation reported $898K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $59K.
How much is The Sonnie Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Sonnie Foundation reported a distributable amount of $59K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sonnie Foundation's EIN?
The Sonnie Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-6351100. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 26, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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